The publication is reproduced in full below:
IN HONOR OF MARINETTE F. ``MARI'' BARB
______
HON. ROBERT J. WITTMAN
of virginia
in the house of representatives
Thursday, February 4, 2021
Mr. WITTMAN. Madam Speaker, it is with deep sadness but great respect that I take this time to remember Marinette F. ``Mari'' Barb of Williamsburg, VA. Mari passed away on January 20, 2021 after more than a century of life. Mari bravely served the United States for many years, and her life after service was equally memorable and noteworthy.
Mari was born on September 16, 1919 in a small town in the south of France. Two decades later, she joined the French Underground when her home country was occupied by Nazi Germany. During this time, Mari worked with the O.S.S., the predecessor of the CIA. Mari constantly risked her life, helping Allied soldiers and airmen who found themselves behind enemy lines. Using forged Algerian identification papers, Mari saved the lives of countless soldiers by smuggling them back to Allied territory.
Immediately after the war, Mari met her husband, James, while he was in France with the U.S. Army. She moved to the United States with Jim and was made an American citizen by an Act of Congress. A career in intelligence took Mari and Jim to the Pacific Island of Saipan, on two tours in Vietnam, and took Mari to Hong Kong for an extended stay. Mari and Jim made frequent returns to Camp Peary in Williamsburg between overseas assignments.
Once they retired, Mari and Jim moved to Williamsburg, VA permanently. There they became staples of the community, frequenting trivia nights and live music venues. In addition to retiring from work, Mari retired from cooking, so Mari and Jim could always be found at one of their favorite restaurants. Mari is survived by three sisters and many family members spread across both France and the United States. Madam Speaker, I ask you rise with me in memory of Marinette F. Barb. She will be profoundly missed, but her memory lives on in her friends and family.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 21(1), Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 21(2)
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